Badger duo celebrating now | News, Sports, Jobs – Warren Tribune Chronicle

Staff photo / John Vargo Badger’s Lincon Hopkins, left, brings a cup of water to teammate Jacob Zahoransky after Saturday’s regional race at Boardman.

BOARDMAN — Jim Richards saw Jacob Zahoransky off his feet for the first time since he crossed the finish line.

The Badger High School junior was on his back in the wet, grassy area well past the finish line at the Boardman Regional on Saturday. His teammate, junior Lincon Hopkins, made sure he was OK, getting his friend and teammate water.

Celebration, there’s time for that this week. In the moment of this drizzly Saturday afternoon, it was about recuperation. Both Braves distance runners are heading to the Division III state cross country meet at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

Zahoransky finally made it to his feet and held on to the metal railing keeping the spectators out, so the runners could recover after this Boardman Regional meet.

“You’re in, bud. You did it. You did it,” said Richards, the Badger boys cross country coach.

The top 16 at Boardman advanced to state. Hopkins finished fifth and Zahoransky was 15th.

“I honestly didn’t know where I was, 15th- or 16th-place,” Zahoransky said. “I had nothing left and two people passed me. I gave it all I had in the end and it worked out.”

It didn’t work out for Hopkins last year. He finished in 17th-place, one away from a berth at state.

“After last year, I was really upset I didn’t make it. It just killed my mood,” he said.

He’s happy Zahoransky gets to make the trip with him this year. Hopkins qualified for state his freshman year at National Trail Raceway, a course which runs around a NHRA drag strip.

“I’m happy to go there,” Hopkins said. “I really don’t like that course. I’m just happy that I get to go.”

Badger senior Miranda Stanhope is happy to come back to NTR as a defending state champion. She’s ranked fifth in Division III with the 18:27.85 she ran at the district meet.

Springfield Catholic Central senior Addie Engel has a top time of 17:16.40, almost a minute ahead of any other D-III runner.

“All we ask is she gets the highest finish she can,” Badger girls coach Carrie Albert said. “She has a lot of confidence. Her times have been coming down. She looks great. I’m confident she’ll run a fantastic time and a great performance and run her best.”

Stanhope said she plans to get out to a quick start Saturday and won’t overlook anyone as the defending champion.

“It definitely pushes me,” she said. “It does motivate me because I know I’m capable of a lot. At the same time, I know the competition changes every year. I’m going to work twice as hard. I’m not going to let it think I can run anything and win whatever. I still have to work really hard to make sure I don’t get ahead of myself.”

Last weekend, Zahoransky was happy to not be dizzy anymore so he could enjoy going to state.

“It’ll be a lot more exciting,” he said. “I couldn’t comprehend much when I finished. I’m happy to have this family here. It’s great.”